Chargers' Najee Harris Reportedly Activated Off NFI List Amid Eye Injury Before Week 1

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris has been activated from the non-football injury list, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday.

Harris landed on the NFI list after suffering an eye injury in a fireworks incident on July 4.

He will now be eligible to make his Chargers debut during his new team's Sept. 5 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil.

Harris played the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He signed a one-year deal worth up to $9.25 million with the Chargers in March.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Harris was recovering from "injuries, facial and otherwise," related to the fireworks incident.

Harris' agent Doug Hendrickson originally said in a statement that the fireworks incident had "resulted to injuries to several attendees," and that his client had suffered a "superficial eye injury" but was "fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season."

Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz then said on July 16 that Harris would likely be placed on the NFI list to start training camp.

Although NFL Network's Ian Rapoport originally reported that Harris was only expected to have a "short stay" on the NFI list, Harris remained out for the next month.

Harris began "walking laps with a helmet and weighted vest around the Chargers' practice field" starting Aug. 2, per ESPN's Kris Rhim.

Harris sparked alarm with an Aug. 6 post on Snapchat, in which his right eye appeared swollen and shut through the visor of his mask.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Aug. 8 that he had "looked into" Harris' injured eye and could confirm the running back could open it.

Harris was running and using a football for drills off to the side of the practice field as of Aug. 12, according to Rhim.

Hortiz said last Saturday that he was "hopeful" Harris would be able to play in Week 1, but the running back's limited availability in training camp and in practice calls into question how big of a workload he could take on even if available.

Any limitations could mean more touches for rookie running back Omarion Hampton, who was selected by the Chargers with the No. 22 pick of the 2025 draft.

Harris has not yet missed a game in his four-year NFL career. He recorded his fourth straight 1,000-yard campaign in 17 regular season games of his 2024 campaign in Pittsburgh.